News and analysis of critical issues in homeland security

April 6, 2006

With hurricane season just months away, President Bush on Thursday nominated the acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be permanent head of the nation’s disaster response agency.

R. David Paulison, a 30-year firefighter, took over at FEMA in September when Bush named him to replace Michael Brown, who quit in the face of unrelenting criticism over the agency’s sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina.

If confirmed by the Senate, Paulison would be undersecretary for federal emergency management at the Homeland Security Department. Paulison currently is acting undersecretary for emergency preparedness and response.

If I am correct, Paulinson is Acting Director of an Office not a Directorate. The Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate ended with the standup of the Preparedness Directorate in December and the confirmation by the Senate by voice vote of George Foresman. It is interesting that under the new plan there is no FEMA but a Federal Emergency Management Directorate. A new acronym perhaps?